Hundreds of Animals Saved Through Central Valley Transfer Coalition

The San Francisco SPCA has partnered with Bay Area and Central Valley shelters, thanks to a $117,000 grant from PetSmart Charities®

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – (December 17, 2018) – The Central Valley Transfer Coalition is a new partnership between the San Francisco SPCA, Bay Area shelters, and several shelters in the Central Valley. As is the case in many rural areas, Central Valley shelters often struggle to provide care and find adopters for burgeoning animal populations. Meanwhile, in urban areas like the Bay Area, shelter staff travel far and wide to source adoptable dogs and cats. Responding to these twinned needs, the SF SPCA partnered with Bay Area and Central Valley shelters to form a transfer coalition. PetSmart Charities, the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, provided a $117,000 grant for the first year of the alliance.

“This partnership is only possible thanks to the generosity of PetSmart Charities, and it has already saved more than 1,100 lives,” said Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, SF SPCA President. “More than just accepting transferred animals, this coalition allows us to share best practices and identify core needs and competencies.”

When four-month-old Benny came to the SF SPCA through the Central Valley Coalition, he was emaciated, had several puncture wounds and bruising consistent with being shaken. Still, his rescuers in the Central Valley said Benny came running toward them, tail wagging. Throughout his recovery at the SF SPCA Veterinary Hospital, Benny’s spirit never dampened and he became a staff and volunteer favorite. Benny is now happy, healthy, and doing great in his new home.

“Pet transport continues to be a trusted method of reducing pet homelessness, and a practice we are committed to supporting through grant funding,” said Dr. David Haworth, president of PetSmart Charities. “The collective work of this coalition continues to give homeless Central Valley pets a better chance to find loving homes in areas of great need, and a best practice example for animal welfare organizations.”

The SF SPCA set a goal of finding homes for 1,500 animals by the end of the program’s first year, which will be in March 2019. In addition to transferring animals to the Bay Area, the SF SPCA is also providing training to Central Valley staff in all areas of shelter management.

“The SF SPCA has a successful track record in the Central Valley,” explained Dr. Scarlett. “In 2018, we wrapped up a five-year partnership with Stockton Animal Services that saved 40,000 animals from euthanasia. Now that Stockton is positioned for success, we’re excited to take what we’ve learned and help other shelters in the Central Valley.”

About the San Francisco SPCA

The San Francisco SPCA is an independent, community-supported, non-profit animal welfare organization dedicated to saving, protecting and providing immediate care for cats and dogs who are homeless, ill or in need of an advocate. The SF SPCA also works long-term to educate the community, reduce the number of unwanted kittens and puppies through spaying and neutering, and improve the quality of life for animals and their human companions. The organization does not receive government funding and is not affiliated with any national organization.

For more information, call the SF SPCA at (415) 554-3000 or visit sfspca.org.

About PetSmart Charities®

PetSmart Charities, Inc. is committed to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps to find forever homes and families for more than 500,000 shelter pets each year. PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to nonprofits aligned with its mission under four key areas of support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets and Providing Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting almost $340 million since its inception in 1994. Independent from PetSmart Inc., PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, a third-party organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 15 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.